INN Nonprofit News Awards (INNYs)

INN Nonprofit News Awards (INNYs)

Overview: The INN Nonprofit News Awards honor excellence in journalism, leadership and community service across the field of nonprofit news.

Geographic Scope: United States

Eligibility:

Open to INN full or provisional member organizations in good standing

Work published, broadcast or produced between July 1 and July 31 of the contest year

Series published between those dates that start before or ends after the contest period are eligible

Work created by freelancers for an INN member newsroom is eligible

Newsrooms must be members of INN in good standing on the date of submitting entries

Award Categories:

Journalism Categories (Tiered by newsroom revenue)

1. Best Investigative Journalism Award - Honors a single story or series that uncovered significant and impactful news based on reporters' own investigation and which advances and serves the public interest. Judges consider the impact through subsequent coverage or resulting policy changes.

2. Insight Award for Explanatory Journalism - Honors a single story or series of explanatory reporting that provides insight and understanding of a significant and complex subject. Entries may include stories/images/multimedia that are part of a single series, or up to three stories and accompanying images/multimedia from coverage of a single beat.

3. Breaking Barriers Award - Honors reporting that brought new understanding to an issue or topic affecting people or communities that are historically underrepresented, disadvantaged or marginalized, resulting in impactful change. Entries may include single stories, stories/images/multimedia that are part of a series, or up to three stories and accompanying images/multimedia from coverage of a single beat.

4. Community Champion Award - Honors an INN member organization that made a significant contribution to the well-being of its community through a journalism-centered project or service.

5. Game-Changer Award - For an organization that produced an innovative idea or practice that led to success in revenue, audience growth or sustainable financial support of news.

Overall Categories (One award across size tiers)

1. Startup of the Year - Honors a young organization (operating for less than 3 years) for establishing strong journalism and the revenue, reader and community support to sustain it. Entry fee: $15.

2. Journalism Partner of the Year Award - Honors a news-oriented project or ongoing partnership that exemplifies the culture of sharing and cooperation in nonprofit news and expands the impact of its journalism. Nominations may include a member's partnership with other newsrooms (regardless of INN membership) or other organizations, or its work to share data, specialized reporting or other shared resources with other members. Entry fee: $15.

3. Emerging Leader of the Year - Honors an individual with fewer than five years in executive leadership who is building a sustainable organization, models positive and innovative leadership, demonstrates a strong commitment to equity and inclusion, and deep commitment to serving their community. Nominations should be submitted with comments or an attached document in support from the member's executive director, publisher or similar leader. Nominees are not required to have participated in INN's Emerging Leaders program. One nomination per member. Entry fee: $15.

4. INN Nonprofit News Lifetime Achievement Award - Honors an individual who has made significant, innovative and lasting contributions to the field of independent, nonprofit news, reflecting the spirit of INN's creation. Nominations should include comments or an attached document describing the nominee and their contributions to the field. INN members may nominate any person; affiliation with the nominating member organization is not required. One nomination per member. No entry fee.

Size Tiers (for tiered categories):

Small: Revenue of $250,000 or less

Medium: Revenue of $250,001 to $999,999

Large: Revenue of $1 million to $3 million

Super: Revenue more than $3 million

Entry Fees:

Small-tier: $10 per entry (journalism categories); $15 (overall categories)

Medium-tier: $15 per entry (journalism categories); $15 (overall categories)

Large/Super-tier: $20 per entry (journalism categories); $15 (overall categories)

Lifetime Achievement Award: No entry fee

Entry Requirements:

Entries accompanied by a letter or note describing the work, how it was produced and its significance or impact

If not originally published or broadcast in English, entries must include English transcript or subtitles

Online links for submissions should be kept accessible until at least October 31

Up to four (4) individuals may be named on a team entry; otherwise entry made in name of staff

Scripts for audio or video entries optional but recommended

Members may enter as many categories as desired; each entry may be submitted in only one category

Contact: Michelle Morgante, INN Member Network Director, michelle@inn.org or 209-259-0007

Additional Notes: INN reserves the right to use any part or whole of any entry for publicity or educational purposes. Judges reserve the right to move an entry from one category to another if they agree the entry is better suited for the new category.